Combined hinge and wall assembly



March 6, 1945. N. T. BALDANZA COMBINED HINGE AND WALL ASSEMBLY z sneets-sheet 1 Filed Dec. 9, 1943 I V EN TOR.

March 6, 1945.

N. T. BALDANZA COMBINED HINGE AND WALL'ASSEMBLY Filed Dec. 9, 1943 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I [Ill/III,

Fag /7.'

INVENTOR.

Patented Mar. 6, 1945 2,370,928 I I COMBINEDHINGE AND WALL ASSEMBLY:

, Nicholas T. Baldanza, Rutherford, N. J assignor to, Columbia Protektosite Company, Inc.,.Carlstadt, N. J a corporation of New Jersey Application December 9, 1943, Serial No. 513,592 I 6 Claims.

This invention relates to devices such as hinge and wall assemblies.

One object of the invention'is to provide a hinge structure and a wall or container structure either of which is assembled in course of assembling the other to provide'an improved hinge Whose pintle cannot be released by straining the hinge and springing or distorting a wall of the container structure. I

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of the-nature'set forth wherein the pintle and ear portions of a hinge are maintained in snugly journaled relation with each other at the end of a tracl -like, pintle guiding groove by coaction of a plurality of wall elements which form a member that is connected to a companion member by the hingeso produced.

Another object of the invention is to furnish a novel device or principle of construction adapted to be embodied in articles as diversified as a spectacle and acontainer, since inthe former the lens and the frame'may be regarded as wall elements assembled to maintain a temple hinged- 1y connected to the-frame; and ina container, inner and outer container elements or walls may respectively form a box or the cover thereof, and one element may be considered a frame for the other, these elements being assembled to produce the hinge which connects the cover to the box.

This invention has considerable utility when applied, for example, to plastic containers or parts, in which it is desirable to maintain a certam-effect which would be interrupted by the use of metal; however, the invention can also be embodied with considerable advantage in metallic devices, and in articlesthat'may be composed in part of metal and in part of plastic. Various ornamental and multi tone effects of color or finish may also be obtained 'at'low cost, regardless of the material or materials of which a device may be made, because a considerable saving is efiected in providing the hinge.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved device which lendsitseli'to various merqhandizing methods, such as the utilization of refill containers embodying the invention and without which the hinge is disassembled; thus no substitutes can be used, so that the public is safeguarded. i

Further features, objects and advantages of the invention may be briefly-indicatedas follows:

1. The assembly of two or more elements may exert resilient pressure to cause snug .bearing engagement between the pintle and ear portions of the hinge, whereby close tolerances need not be observed to obtain a good hinge.

2. If desired one of the velements may cooperate with a portion of the hinge to afford a brakswung open.

3. The assembly-of the elements may provide for adjustable relative movement therebetween to exert positive pressure on. the-hinge. assembly for asnug'bearing effect. l n

4. The hinge 'assemblyand the container .or element assembly may so.coact'with each other thatthe pressure exerted by the latter to *lock the hinge assembly may result in locking the elements in assembled relation with each'other.

5-. The hinge may be maintained assembled by elementswhich are movable with respect to each other within the limits of their assembly relationshin whereby anarticle held by one element can be projected for greater accessibility.

GL'Thedifieren't partswof a device can be assembled by handling only the mainparts without the'need for holding small pintles or the like; elements can be assembled to mount or assemble the hinge by a simple angular movement or even by a direct axialmovement between the elements.

7. In course-of producing the hingeand container assembly, other parts may be assembled, such as an additional compartment section, or a decorative or pictorial member or disc.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent asthe specification, proceeds. I s I With the-aforesaid :objects in view, the invention consists in the novel combinations and arrangements "of parts hereinafter described in their preferred embodiments, pointed out inthe subjoined claims, and villustratedin the annexed drawings, wherein like parts are designated by the same reference characters throughout the :severalviews.

Inxthe drawings:v I I Figure :1 is a fragmentary front view of a spectacie showing a device embodying the invention.

Fig. :2 is an edge view thereof with a pant or the temple removed.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary edge view with thelens and temple removed.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view with the lens and .temple removed.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view-of-a portion ofthe temple, showing the pintles thereof. y Fig. 6 is an-enlarged sectional view on line 6-6 ofFig. 1. I

Fig. 7 is-a partial 'central vertical sectional view showing a container embodying the invention, the assembling of the inner container element :being shown in dot-dash lines.

Fig. 8 is a horizontal section on line -8 8. of Fig.7. 1

Fig. 9 isa fragmentary sectional view taken approximately on line 9-'-'9 of Fig.7. Fig. 10 is a similar sectional view taken on line |0l0 of Fig/l. i

Fig ll is a sectional view with parts removed, and other parts in elevation showing a modifica- :tion of the invention in course of being assembled.

fication. I

Fig. 16 is a plan view of a different embodiment of the invention, with the cover broken I away. 1

Fig. 17 is a sectional view taken on line l l-l! of Fig. 16.

The advantages of the invention as here-out- :lined are best realized when all of its features cross section, to freely receive the lens, after which the frame is subjected to heat and pressure to produce the cross section shown. This or any other conventional permanent or snap-in securement may be employed;

It will now be perceived that the hinge is produced by cooperation of the lens and its and instrumentalities are combined in one and the same structure, but, useful devices may be produced embodyingless than the whole.

It will be obvious to those'skilledin the art to which the invention appertains, that the same may be incorporated inseveral different con- I structio-ns. ,fore, are submitted merely as showing the'preferred exemplification of the invention.

The accompanying drawings, there- Referring in detail to the drawings 45 denotes a device embodying the invention. The same may I include a spectacle frame 46 having a lens 1 holding portion 4'! for a lens 48, the latter seating in an annular groove 49 in a conventional manner. Connecting the frame portion 4! to a temple 5!] is a hinge means 5|. The latter may comprise a short arm 52 at an angle to the temple, this arm terminating in integral alined pintle portions 53. These pintle portions may be regarded as forming a single continuous pintle section 54. Formed in the frame portion 41 is a T-shaped opening, of which the head consists 1 of a groove or groove portions 55,communicating with a slot 56 which forms the stem of the. T.

,\ The groove portions 55 which lie beyond the adjacent portion of the annular recess 49, are

adapted topivotally receive the pintle portions 53, while the slot-56 movably receives thetemple portion 52 to permit a full right angle swingof the temple into a position parallel to the plane of the lenses. Accordingly, the slot 56 causes the strength of the frame at this point to depend on i the adjacent front portion of the frame'a's shown in Figs. 4 and 6, but considerablereinforcement may be obtained at this area by sufliciently enlarging the frame at the section 51. The relation of the various parts is further indicated in that the lens 48 bears on the pintle section 54 thus holding the pintle portions 53 in snugly journaled relation in their grooves 55. To prevent the glass from cutting the pintle section, the edge of the lens is preferably curved in the trans- If desired, the pintle section I 1 may also be contracted somewhat toward its center, so that the pintle portions 53 maybe like alined conoidal sections tapering. toward each 1 other, along curved lines, whereby the pintle portion affords uniform contact with the peripheral I curvature of the lens.

accomplished by providing a. fiat on the periph- 3 cry of the lens so that the pintle portion 54 may have cylindrical sliding contact therewith.

verse direction.

A similar result may be In assembling, the temple portion 52is" entered the spectacle. In securing the lens in its recess 49, the frame may be initially of angle form in assembled to frame so that-the temple is thus reliably swingablymounted with one side of the slot 56 forming a stop for the front edge of the part 52 of the temple. In fact, the hinge action may be rearded as the result of the combined action of the frame, temple, and lens. Of course, if the lens were removed, the hinge could be directly disassembled by merely removing the pintle section from its grooves 55. Y

' The invention as exemplified by the-device and by other devices hereinafter described may thus be defined as including a wall element such as a lens; a wall or embracing element such as a frame; these .elements being interengaged to maintainan assembly relation with each other, which assembly may be referred to as a first member; a second member angularly movable toward and away from the first member and being in'this case a temple; and hinge means including .portions such as pintles separably interengaging with the second member one of the elements, such as the frame, by reason of the initially open grooves ;'the other element, namely the lens. coacting with said separable portions to pre vent separation of the pintle and grooved portions, when the elements are in assembly relation with each other, whereby the hinge meansis interconnect said members in course of assembling said elements to. produce the first member. a

In Figs. '7 to 10 is shown a device fili, such-as I a container, embodying the invention. The same may include a first member such as a box-6l comprising a plurality of wall elements of which one may be an outer'co-ntainer-or holder 62 and the other an inner container'63. The outer container may be formed like a frame or ring,

' which may be open or'split, but is preferably of closed formation. In any case, this outer element 62 provides an opening 64 in which the inner element 63 is fitted. The latter may be secured to the outer member by a peripheral lip 65 at its bottom Wall 66;- the latter being backed by a decorative plate or reinforcement disc 61 coextensive with the lip 65, and received with the latter in an annular undercut 58, for securement V by in-turning a marginal'portion of the outer element to produce-a holding bead 69. Cooperat- .-ing with the box BI is a second member, such as a cover 10 mounted at one point by a novel hinge means H and engaged with the box at an opposite point by a conventional snap lock 12 which may comprise a tongue 13 engageable in an undercut 14 in the outer element 62. The inner container may project above the outer element for a peripheral snug fit directly with the cover 10 as at 15. v

The hinge means ll may include an opening or slot '75 in the outer element 6-2 adapted to receive a downward extension or arm I! of the cover. Said arm may have integral alined pintle portions .18 slidably received in confronting grooves 15 which communicate with the opening 16 and with the interior of the element 62. Thus the arm 11 and its pintles 18 provide an inverted T formation. Bearing against the pintle section is a projection 19a integral with the. inner container and extending laterally from an adjacent portion of f I and 9|.

= and 85.

fully open top and bottom so thatthe innercontainer I01 may be insertedor removed by anuppushed axially intoplace.

with the parts of an outer container to maintain the latter assembled by a hinge orother means. In Fig. 12 is shown a'modified device I05 fea-' turing theapplication of pressure throughout the pintle section, including the pintle portions, as

distinguished from the devices. 60 and 85 in which the pressure is applied onlyfat that part of the pintle section which lies betweenthejtrunnions 18 that the pressure abutment or projection may serve to releasably lock the inner container or Another feature of this device, I05 is I to support the same or both. v Except as otherwise described, the device I05 maybe like that at 6 0 It may include an outer member I06 ward or downward movement. I'his'inner container may have an annular side wall I08, re-

' silient in whole or in art, as by being of different thicknesses, which need notbe shown. Instead of making the abutment lflaintegralwith the inner container-it may be made as a sepagrooves H0 or undercut to fit the same to thus j bear on the pintle portions II I of the arm [I2 of the cover H3. With this construction the inner. I container can be axially inserted into the outer 1 element I06, instead of requiring an angular movement as in the devices 60 and 85. To'retain the container N1 in the elementI06, the wall I08 may have a depression'I I4 into which the inner end of the'abutment I09, is adapted to snap by reason of the resilience of the wall I08. v T ojaiford better support for the container I0'I, asmall'bulge 5 may be formed on the walll08 at the slot simultaneously. The outer container I29] may i have afserie's of slots I30'for the arms'of a cover,, which arms are each provided with integral pintle portionsI3I held in their' grooves I32 by a series of 'abutment's I 33. The device maybe assembled like the d'evices'60, 85 and I I1 and may be modified according to those disclosures, as well 'asin accordance with the disclosure of the device I05 In Fig. -is showna devicefI35 whereby the swinging of the cover may be resiliently braked by the inner container. Here the cover I36 has'an' arm I31 having a large bearingportion I 38"receiving a pin I39 of metal or the like; This pin 1 rate member directly slidably fitted in the pintle is slid into the pintle grooves I40 n the outerfele ment I4I, the arm I3! swinging in fitted'relation in the opening l 4'2'and bearingagainst theresilient wall of. the inner container Ins-whereby elements to assemble a hinge. Further there are opening II2, said bulge bearing down on the abutment. The arrangementis such that the container may be removed from element I06 either in an upward or downward direction, but, I removal in a downward direction is more difficult than in an upward direction. Since the container bears fiatwise on the member I06, except adja- 3 cent to the hinge where the clearance Il5a occurs, the support at H4 or I I5 or both, suffices to support the container. It will be understood that the container I01 may be square, circular or 1 otherwise shaped, and if circular, it is slightly eccentric to. the element I06 becauseallof the clearance is at 5:; due to the pressure on the abutment. In assembling this device,the abutthe container is I ment is first inserted and then In Fig. 13 is shown a modification I container I I8 may be axially insertedinto the element I I9 by notching the latter fromthe slot I20 1 continuously to the bottom thereof at I2I and providing a rib I22 to fill this notch. This rib 1 maybe prolonged at I23 to fill the adjacent space in the slot I20, up to the top of the element: H9

thus affording a neat finish atthe top. How- 1 ever, only the upper section I23 or the lower sec- I1 which. differs from the devices and 05 in that the don I22. need be used, long enough to bear on the pintle section I 24. By the used 'suchribs or rib sections, a reinforced area is produced .for

bearing against the pintle section. The container H8 may be inserted axially, and secured in any over an annular lip I26. Actually-theribs I22, I 23 may beregarded as being a continuation of a manner herein described, or by rolling ahead I25 projection such as in Fig. 11; and if the bevel I I02 in the latter is omitted then thezcontainer 94 could be inserted axially'instead of angularly. In Fig. 14 is shown a device I28 according to the invention, illustrating a series of hinges locked indicated other features hereinbefore described;

7 as will be presently apparent. 1 As in certain. of the previous-devices'an outer container T23I is formed with a slot 232for the swingable arm 233ofacover mountedby pintle portions 234 on the arm, which pintle portions are slid into open slots or grooves communicating with the open-- ing 232 and-with theinterior of' the container 23I. Mounted in the'latter are a plurality of inner container elements 235, 236 which interfit with each other, and. with the outer container to remain snugly, frictionally in assembled'relation. In this embodiment other advantages may be obtained since an abutment such as 231 may function like a projection such as .I9j'or95, and may" be formed with a bevel like thelatter, or it may be constructedlike theabutment I109 fitted in. the pintle bearing grooves, although fixed on the container :e1ement.,236. Thusuthe abutment 231 may assist in holding-the element 236 within the, outer container, andif this abutment be beveled as at 00, angular pressure may be exerted on the pintle portions 234. In ,lieuof the bevel on the. abutment 237 the container 23I mayhave a lip or stop at its mouth under which the element 236 is slidable for positive engagement againstremoval. A.further advantage is that the container element 236 may itself. act as a spring to afford resilient pressure on the pintle portions, since the inner container meansis interrupted. .Thus- .the element 236 may havev its'side wall cutaway at one side. leaving free edges 238which are undercut or spaced from the adjacent side wall of element 235, but the ele ment. 236 abutting the :latter at the bottom as at 239 A small clearance space may be observed a at .240 between thevside wall of the element 236 and the adjacent side wall of the outer container; so thatthe entire element 236 acts like a spring, resilient action occurring in'a plane from abut. ment 23'Ito the points of positive contact at 239,

with the clearances at 238 aridfi240 afiording room for resilient deformation. If desired the element 235 may also be secured in theoutercontainer by asnapengagement as at SI, 98, with the aid of a releasingmeans99, I0 0 shown in Fig. 11.

The device-230 maybe-assembled by first in serting the pintle portions 234 in their grooves to mount the cover, then the container element 236 is downwardlly inserted into the outer container and slid along itsbottom wall for the abutment 23'! to engage the pintle portions in the grooves thereof, and finally, the element 235 is downwardly pressed into the outer container to exert a. lateral pressure on the element 236 and cause a slight deformation thereof to bring the latter into spring coaction with the pintle portions, the reaction binding the element 235 frictionally in place without requiring any other fastening. Thus it is shown that one of the wall elements of a member may be interrupted and this element assembled in course of assembling the hinge and the member itself, all of the parts cooperating to maintain the entire assembly. Thus the elements 235, 236 may be considered as one container element slotted, notched or otherwise interrupted as at 238, and inserted wholly axially by using a principle such as is shown in Fig. 12 or a vertically elongated abutment as in Fig. 13, or a direct contact as in Fig. 15. If necessary the container elements 235, 236 may be rotated as a unit. In any event the portion 236 of the inner container may maintain the resilient action described.

In the various modifications shown, the wall or container structures may be regarded as including the hinge structures, and vice versa. an additional or intermediate membersuch as I09 may be regarded as a part of the wall or hinge structure even though made as a separate part. I claim:

1. A device including a first member comprising inner and outer interengaged horizontal elements, one of said elements having a recess, the second element having a main body portion and a projection lateral thereto, a second member having an arm extending into the recess and being adapted for swinging movement therein, said projection extending laterally into said recess in angularly spaced relation to the arm, said recess having a bottom surface portion adapted to constitute a stop for said arm and the projection overlying the said bottom surface portion, means including a hinge interconnecting the first member with the arm, the hinge having a pintle portion and a pintle receiving portion engaging the same, the pintle receiving portion having a groove substantially elongatedin a direction radial to the axis of the hingewhereby the pintle portion is laterally spaced from the said main body of the second element and lies radially intermediate of the ends of the said surface portion, said projection abutting one of the hinge portions to prevent separation of the hinge portions while permitting swinging movement of the second member.

2. A device including a relatively plane first member comprising inner and outer elements intel-engaged to form a rigid structure, the outer element having a recess, a second member having an arm extending into the recess, a hinge interconnecting the first member with the arm, the hinge having a pintle portion integral with the second member and a pintle receiving portion integral with the recessed element, the pintle receiving portion constituting the sides of the recess and having confronting grooves open at an inner endthereof and closed at an outer end thereof with the grooves being elongated along said plane from the inner to the outer end thereof a distance substantially greater than the diam- Hence eter of the pintles, the pintle portion having end portions engaged in said grooves, the inner element having a section projecting outwardly beyond the inner surface of the outer element. and received in the recess in such relation to the arm that the latter is adapted for substantial swinging movement about the axis of .the hinge, with said section abutting the pintle portion to maintain the latter at the closed end of the grooves,

whereby any strain on the hinge tending to spring ment and having an arm extending into said recess, said arm having pintle portions received insaid grooves, the container means having a projection extending into said recess in the plane of the grooves, the latter being sufficiently elongated to receive the projection as well as the pintle portions to thus resist removal of the container means from the container element adjacent to the projection, the latter abutting the pintle'portions to maintain the same at the closed ends of the grooves.

4. A device according to claim 1 wherein said hinge includes a pintle portion on the second member, one of the elements having a groove open at one end and closed at the other end for slidingly receiving the pintle portion, and said means including a part actuated by the other element for causing pressure on the pintle portion against the closed end of the groove at an acute angle to the plane of the latter. I

5. A device according to claim 1 wherein a plurality of the inner elements are disposed within the outer element, the latter constituting a casing having a substantially continuous side wall, the inner elements providing a first container section and a second container section, the first container section forming a part of said means and engaging one of the hinge portions when assembled in the casing, the latter and the first container section having retaining means for positively holding the first container section in the casing against axial removal from the latter while permitting movement of the first container section along the bottom of the casing, the second container section cooperating with the casing and the first container section to prevent said move-, ment of the latter along the bottom of the casing and causing the first container section to be pressed toward the hinge, the retaining means rality of the inner elements are disposed within an outer element, the outer element constituting a container, the inner elements providing container sections," one of the inner elements being of resilient material and having openings at the top and at a side so as to constitute a resilient part; for causing bearing pressure between the hinge portions, said container sections being so related and fitted into the outer container that the resilient container section is resiliently deformable by the companion container section.

NICHOLAS -T. BALDANZA. 

